KHAR (Bajaur Agency), May 15: Tribal elders of the Bajaur Agency have warned tribesmen of action if they provided shelter to foreign elements in the area. The warning was issued at a jirga held here after security forces had arrested seven people, including foreigners from the house of an activist of the banned Tehreek Nifaz Shariat-i- Mohammadi (TNSM) on May 4.

The Mamond tribe jirga also warned activists of religious organizations against providing sanctuary to foreigners and said action would be taken against them after May 17 if they failed to comply with the instruction.

Elders of the Mamond tribe had signed an agreement with the agency administration some time ago under which members of the tribe would have to take action against tribesmen under the collective responsibility clause for providing shelter to foreign militants.

Following the arrest of an Al Qaeda leader in Mardan, security forces have picked up

local people and foreigners from the Bajaur Agency which is situated along the Afghan border.

“If a tribesman is found violating decisions of the jirga, the entire tribe will burn his houses and impose heavy fine on him,” the jirga decided.

It was also decided that action would be taken against those who provided shelter to local and foreign militants in recent days. The jirga members assured the authorities that tribesmen would fully cooperate with security forces to flush out foreign militants from the area.